TRAVERSE CITY— Throughout his four years in the state Legislature, Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, has complained long and loud about the small portion of the state budget disbursed in northern Michigan.
Now he can do something about it.
Roth’s recent appointment to the state House of Representatives Appropriations Committee — including as chair of its subcommittee on Health and Human Services — is among several key committee assignments handed out to northern Michigan lawmakers entering the 2025-26 legislative session.
Those assignments could have a significant impact on the number of state-funded projects, grants and other funds routed to northern Michigan from the state’s $80 billion-plus general fund budget.
“The whole state should benefit from the budget,” Roth said. “Every project should be considered on merit, not location.”
Roth has been a persistent critic of the amount of state spending in northern Michigan in recent years. In the state’s 2024-25 fiscal year, Roth said only about 20 percent of the state’s budget was committed to projects and grants located north of Midland, and much of that was spent in the Upper Peninsula. This year’s budget includes even less for the northern half of the state, he said.
“We did not do well,” Roth said.
Other northern Michigan representatives on the House Appropriations Committee include Rep. Ken Borton of the 105th District, which includes parts of Antrim and Kalkaska counties, along with Crawford, Otsego and Missaukee counties. Rep. Cam Cavitt, a Republican from the 106th District that covers the eastern side of the northern Lower Peninsula, was also named to the Appropriations Committee. The committee also includes western U.P. Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-110), giving the northern part of the state four Republican seats on the 29-person committee in the Republican-controlled House.
Kent Wood of Traverse City, a former legislative staffer in Lansing who now runs the lobbying and consulting firm Borealis Strategic, said northern Michigan has been traditionally well represented in Lansing in policy areas such as agriculture, natural resources and tourism.
But, when it comes to state budget decisions, the region’s political clout has been less apparent.
“It’s always good to have local and regional interests on the Appropriations Committee,” Wood said. “To have four (representatives) from northern Michigan is really great … it can’t be anything but beneficial for northern Michigan.”
Roth said he hasn’t yet developed a specific set of budget priorities for the region, but added, “I’ve already started building a list.”
He wants the state to invest more in northern Michigan’s infrastructure, including public water and sewer system development, which he says is a key to addressing the region’s housing shortage and building up the area’s workforce.
“A lot of my area is rural, and they need help with their infrastructure,” he said.
Another priority is road funding. Roth wants to route more state dollars to county Road Commissions for secondary and local road improvements, which he said can be done for significantly less cost than state road projects done through the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Roth’s appointments from House Speaker Rep. Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, also include the majority vice-chair seat of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges, and the Medicaid/Behavioral Health, Agriculture/Rural Development, and Natural Resources subcommittees.
Wood, who’s also a former director of government relations for the regional Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, said sub-committee assignments are also important to setting the state’s spending priorities.
“The subcommittees are really the ones that dive into these budgets, and they have a lot of say,” Wood said.
Other northern Michigan lawmakers’ committee assignments include Rep. Curt VanderWall, a Republican whose 102nd District extends from Muskegon north into Manistee County. VanderWall will chair the House Health Policy Committee, and will also serve on House committees on finance, government operations and natural resources/tourism.
VanderWall said his focus as the leader of the Health Policy Committee is to increase access to health care services for Michigan residents, and lower the cost of prescription drugs.
“The No. 1 priority for me is access to health care in our rural communities and, of course, access to care is related to the cost of care,” VanderWall said.
An avid outdoorsman, VanderWall said his priorities on the Natural Resources Committee will focus on continued maintenance and upgrades to the state park system, along with enhancing the state hunting and fishing industries through protecting the state’s fishery and wildlife population. He also wants to bolster access to state-owned recreation lands for Michigan residents and visitors alike.
“We’re doing everything we can to enhance the hunting and fishing areas,” he said.
Freshman state Rep. Parker Fairbairn, an Alanson Republican whose 107th District includes Charlevoix and Emmet counties, was appointed as majority vice-chair of the House Regulatory Reform Committee. He also was named to the natural resources/tourism, communications/technology and energy committees. Fairbairn, whose family owns a hardware store in Alanson dating to 1895, is also part of the House Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employers and Small Businesses.
On the Democratic side of the aisle, state Rep. Betsy Coffia of Traverse City, D-103rd, begins her second term representing Leelanau County and portions of Grand Traverse and Benzie counties with assignments to the Energy and Economic Competitiveness committees.
“Serving on the Energy and Economic Competitiveness committees is an opportunity to advocate for policies that strengthen our local economy, support small businesses and workers, and ensure a sustainable energy future for the Great Lakes State,” Coffia said in a statement. “Northern Michigan’s communities need a balanced approach that fosters economic growth while protecting our state’s natural resources.”
Committee assignments in the state Senate were made two years ago following statewide Senate elections for four-year terms, and will be revisited following the 2026 election.
While northern Michigan lawmakers may have more sway in Michigan’s spending priorities over the next two years, observers anticipate some challenging state budget debates lie ahead.
Wood said he expects “some vastly different budget numbers from the Governor’s office, the Senate and the House” concerning 2025-26 state budget proposals, and suspects that hammering out a state budget will come down to the wire before the state’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Roth also anticipates some tough budget negotiations in the coming months, but is encouraged that northern Michigan lawmakers will have more voices in those debates.
“I think it’s good for all of northern Michigan,” Roth said. “I think we’re going to do very well this term.
“It won’t be easy. We still have divided government in Michigan – and there’s a lot of things to work through.”